Slitting mechanism



Oct. 16, 1951 E. w. CLEM SLITTING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 5, 1947 Oct. 16, 1951 E. w. CLEM SLITTING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 5, 1947 5 sheets sheet 2 Oct. 16, 1951 Filed Oct. 5, 1947 E. w. CLEM 2,571,201

' SLITTING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 AIE SUPPLY may Patented Oct. 16, 1951 SLITTING MECHANISM Everett W. Clem, Shrewsbury, Mass, assignor to Rice Barton Corporation, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 3, 1947, Serial No. 777,680

7 Claims.

slitting the web into a plurality of ribbons which are all wound up, either on a single cylinder or core or on a plurality of axially aligned cylinders or cores.

Whenever a paper winding machine is so provided with a plurality of slitting devices, it becomes necessary to remove the devices from the path of the paper web preparatory to threading the web initially through the machine, thereby to permit the web to be positioned and tensioned Fig. 2 represents a fragmentary left-hand side view of certain of the devices of Fig. 1, shown in association with a sectional representation of shifting mechanism therefor.

Fig. 3 represents, on an enlarged scale, a front View, partly in section, of one of the slitting devices disclosed in Fig; 1.

Fig. 4 represents a left-hand side view of the device disclosed in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 represents, on an enlarged scale, a sectional View of an air valve used in conjunction with each slitting unit as disclosed in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the means whereby the slitting devices are actuated.

Fig. 7 represents, on an enlarged scale, a sectional view of a master air valve of the type used in conjunction with the present invention.

properly. Thereafter, the slitting devices may be shifted to their operable positions, and the winding operation may be initiated. From the above, it will be readily understood that the amount of time required by an operator to thread a paper web initially through a winding machine depends, in a large measure, upon the efficiency of the means provided for maneuvering the slitting devices back and forth between their operable and inoperable positions. Therefore, it is a primar object of the present invention to provide a slitting mechanism which may be readily and efiiciently shifted back and forth between its operative and inoperative positions by an op erator who may be located at a point remote from the various slitting elements. a

A further object of the present invention is to provide a slitting mechanism with means whereby the same may be actuated by an operator with a minimum expenditure of time and effort.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a slitting mechanism of the above described type which may be readily applied to existing types of winding machines with a minimum of alteration and expense.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations, and arrangements :of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention from which the several features and objects thereof will be understood by those skilled in the art.

Fig. 1 represents a fragmentaryfront view of a slitting mechanism having the present invention incorporated therein.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the the present invention is incorporated with any conventional winding machine having side frame members, not shown, which are provided with a pair of oppositely spaced bracket members I0 and II. Rockably mounted in bearing bosses l2 and I3, of said bracket members I0 and II, respectively, is a shaft or support member I4. Disposed below the support member I4 is a rotatable shaft I5, the opposite end portions of which are journalled in bearing bosses I6 and ll, of bracket members I0 and II respectively. Provided on the lower shaft I5, and spaced longitudinally thereof, are a plurality of lower slitting elements I8, I8, over which a paper Web I9 is adapted to be threaded.

Cooperating with the lower slitting elements I8, I8 are a plurality of upper slitting disks 20, 20, each of which is adapted to be rotatably mounted upon a head mechanism generally designated by the numeral 2i. Means, not herein illustrated, are.usually provided for rotating the shaft I5 for the purpose of rotating each of the lower slitting elements I8, I8 and, as the paper web I9 passes over each of the elements I8, l8 and beneath each of the disks 20, 20, the web is thereby slit into a plurality of widths; it being understood that each of the upper disks 20, 20 is mounted so as to be freely rotatable. Referring particularly to Fig. 1, it should be understood that each of the extreme outer slitting disks 20, 20 functions to sever a marginal edge portion .of the paper, while the intermediate disks function to sever the paper into ribbons of various widths, depending upon the spacing between the slitting heads 2|, 2|. Means, hereinafter described, are provided on the slitting heads for adjusting the same back and forth longitudinally of the support member I4, to the end that 3 ribbons of various widths may be produced from the paper web.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, each of the slitting heads 2|, 2| comprises a split collar 22 which is adapted to encircle the shaft or support l4. Each of these collars 22, 22 is provided with a longitudinal slit 23 therein which provides a pair of bosses 24 and 25. A screw 26 has its lower end portion force-fitted into the lower boss 24, while its upper portion is freely received within an aperture 2! provided in the upper boss 25. The extreme upper end portion of the screw 26 is appropriately threaded so as to receive a hand nut 28, the function of which is to clamp the collar member 22 tightly about the support member |4. From the above, it will be readily understood that each of the head mechanisms 2|, 2| may be adjusted longitudinally of the support member l4.

Also projecting out from each of the 'c'olla'rs 22, 22 is a boss 29 which is provided with a ver-' tically disposed aperture 30, which is adapted slidingly to receive therein an upper cylindrical portion 3| of a disk-carrying arm 32. The upper portion of the cylinder 3| is threaded, as at 33, for the purpose of receiving thereon a hand nut 34 which may be adjusted along the cylinder for the purpose of raising oi lowering the arm 32 relative to the collar 22. As may be best seen from Fig. 4, the boss 29 is provided with a'v'ertically disposed slot 35 and a horizontally disposed aperture 35. A screw 31 has its one end force-fitted into an aperture 38 which is provided within the boss 29 and aligned with the aperture 3B. A hand nut 39 is adapted to be received over the threaded end portion of the screw 31, for the purpose of providing a means whereby the member 3| may be rigidly clamped or locked in any desired position within the boss 29.

The lower portion of each of the vertically disposed arms 32, 32 is provided with a horizontally disposed stud 40, upon which is rotatably mounted a sleeve 4|. The right-hand end portion of the sleeve is threaded, as at 42, for the purpose of receiving thereon a clamp nut 43, the'function of which is to lock the upper slitting disk 20 directly against a shoulder member '44 which is formed integrally with the sleeve 41. As above described, the sleeve 4| is freely mounted upon the stud 40 and, therefore, may rotate -about and be shifted axially of the stud. In order 'to limit this axial movement, there is provided on theend of the stud 40 acup-shaped cap 45 which iscarried directly upon the stud 40 by means of a radially disposed key or pin 46, one 'end'of which is force-fitted within the left-hand end portion of the stud 40.

The sleeve 4| is formed with a reduced portion 41 over which is placed a coil spring 48, one end portion of which engages the cap 45, and the other of whichengages a shoulder 49 provided on the sleeve 4|. Thus, the coil spring 48 functions to bias the sleeve 4| and, consequently, the upper slitting disk 20 toward the right, in "the direction of the associated slitting element I8. Fig. 3 illustrates a fragmentary and sectional view of a lower slitting disk I8, and from the above, it is to be understood that the spring 48 functions forcibly to engage the upperslitting disk 20 with the rotatable disk |8 for 'the purpose of providing an efficient severing means for the paper web l9.

As hereinabove noted, it is the purpose'of the present invention to provide a means whereby each of theslitting heads 2|, 2| may be with- 4 drawn from the path of the paper web H). To accomplish this objective, the present invention contemplates the use of means which will be effective to rock the support member |4 about its longitudinal axis and in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2. Such rotation of the support member M will be effective to swing each of the head mechanisms 2| 2| upwardly and away from the cooperating lower slitting elements l8, I8, to the end that a paper web may be freely introduced between the upper disks 20, and the lower elements l8, I8. For so actuating the support member I4, the present invention contemplates the use of a crank 50 which is suitably secured to one end portion of the member Mas-by means of a key 5|. Thus, whenever the crank 50 is shifted downwardly, as viewed in Fig. 2, it will be understood that the member |4 will rock in a counterclockwise direction, to the end that the various slitting heads 2|, 2| will be rotated upwardly and away from the lower elements |3, |8.

Since each of the upper disks 20, 20 is springbiased at all times towards its associated element I 8, it will be readily understood that, whenever the crank 50 is moved upwardly for the purpose of shifting each of the slitting disks 20, 20 into its operative position, each of the disks 20 will forcibly engage the marginal portion of its associated slitting element l8, and, thus, it will be impossible to position the various slitting heads in their proper locations. Therefore, means have to be provided whereby each of the upper disks 20, 20 are shifted endwise relative to the elements l8, l8, before the slitting heads can be moved from their inoperative positions to their operative positions. Furthermore, it is also desirable to so shift the upper disks 20, 20 sidewise relative to the lower elements preparatory to shifting the head mechanisms from their operative to their inoperative positions. More specifically, the present invention contemplates the provision of means which will initially shift the various disks 2|], 2|) sidewise relative to the lower elements I8, l8 and retain the disks in their inoperative positions, while the head mechanisms 2|, 2| move outwardly to their inoperative positions. In other words, in the present invention, the'disks 20, 20 will not be shifted back to their operative position until after the various head mechanisms have been returned to their lower or operative positions.

The present invention contemplates the use of pneumaticmeans'for -shifting each of the discs 20, 20 sidewise relative to its associated member I8. 'More specifically, there is provided on each of the arms 32, 32 an air cylinder 52. Each of these cylinders is provided with the usual hollow cylindrical portion 53 in whichis slidingly mounted a piston 54 having a suitable piston rod 55 connected therewith. 'One end of the piston rod 55 projects out of the cylinder so as to engage a rear face portion of the disk 20 whenever the piston is shifted in a left-hand direction within the cylinder 52. From this, it is to be understood that an outward movement of the piston 54 will be effective to shift the disk 20 against its biasing spring, to the end that the disk will be shifted from engagement with the splitting element l8.

connected to an air supply system through a pair offiexible conduits 56 and 51. Referring particularly to Fig. 6, it is to be understood that each of the conduits 51 and each of the conduits 56 are connected, respectively, to air supply conduits 58 and 59, each of which latter conduits is, in turn, connected with a master valve 60, the construction of which will hereinafter be described. Thus, from the above, it is to be understood that the present invention contemplates the provision of pneumatic means which is effective simultaneously to shift all of the disks 2!], 20 back and forth relative to the lower slitting elements l8, l8 and the disk-carrying arms 32, 32.

- Pneumatic means are also provided in the present invention for rocking the support member l4 back and forth about its longitudinal axis. Referring particularly to Fig. 2, the crank arm 50 is connected by means of a pin 6| to the lower end of a piston rod 52, whose upper end is connected with a piston 63 which is slidably mounted within an air cylinder 64. The air cylinder 64 is adapted to be secured pivotally to an appropriate portion of the slitting machine frame, and, more specifically, it is provided with an aperture 55 for receiving a bolt about which the air cylinder may pivot as the piston 63 slides lengthwise of its cylinder. From this, it is to be understood that, when the piston 63 is forced downwardly by means of air entering into the cylinder through a conduit 66, it will be effective to shift the crank 50 in a counterclockwise direction, thereby simultaneously lifting each of the various head mechanisms 2 I, 2! away from the various lower slitting elements l8, [8. By the same token, whenever the piston 63 is forced upwardly within the cylinder 54, by means of air entering the cylinder through a conduit 51, the various head mechanisms 2|, 2| will be lowered towards their operative positions. Fig. 2 represents somewhat diagrammatically, a mechanical stop boss 58 which may be appropriately secured upon the frame of the slitting mechanism, for the purpose of limiting the downward movement of the crank 50 and, consequently, the piston 63.

Referring now to Fig. 6, each of the air supply conduits 66 and 67 of the air cylinder 64 is connected to a master cylinder 69, which is a structure similar to the first noted master cylinder 60.

As mentioned hereinabove, the present invention contemplates the provision of means for relating the movements of the various slitting disks 20, 25 with that of the head mechanisms 2i, 2|. In other words, it is important to provide the present type of mechanism with some means for preventing the various slitting disks 20, 20 from forcibly engaging the various lower slitting elements l8, [8, whenever the various head mecha-- nisms are shifted from their upper and inoperative positions to their lowerv or operative positions. Thus, means have been provided in the present invention which, when actuated, function initially to shift all of the various slitting disks 20, 2!? simultaneously away from their associated lower elements l8, l8 and, furthermore, these disks are held in their inoperative positions, while all of the head mechanisms 2!, 2| are raised away from the paper web [9, and these disks are not returned to their various operative positions until after all of the head mechanisms have been returned to their lower or operative positions. The means foraccomplishing this objective are described hereinbelow.

, Referring particularly to Fig. 6, it is to be un .derstood, as hereinabove noted, that the airsupply conduits 58 and 59 of the various air cylinders 52, 52 are suitably connected to a master valve 60. This master valve 60 is, in turn, connected to an air supply tank or pump 10 by means of conduits H and 12, the latter of which is, in turn, connected to a main air supply conduit 13 connected directly with the air supply tank 10. Also connected to the master valve 60 is a pilot valve 14 and a solenoid-actuated cut-01f valve 15. These two valves are connected in series to the master valve 50 by means of conduits, which are diagrammatically illustrated'in Fig. 6 by means of a continuous broken line '16, one end of which is connected with the main supply conduit 13, and the other end of which is connected directly with the master valve '50.

The specific construction of the master valve 60 will be hereinafter described in detail, but for the present, merely the functions of this valve will be described. In the operation of the above described system, the air supply tank 10 supplies air, under pressure, directly to the main conduit 13, and this air will find its way directly to the master valve 55 by way of conduits I2 and H. Also, the air from the supply tank 10 will pass to the conduit 76 which will direct the air to the pilot valve M which, in its normal position, is closed and, therefore, will prevent this air from reaching the master valve 50. However, initially, the master valve 60 receives the air from the conduit H, and it will direct this air to the conduit 59 and, thus, it is to be understood that all of the air cylinders 52, 52 will have their various pistons 54, 54 maintained in their inoperative positions, which are particularly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6. Furthermore, the master valve, in its initial condition, functions to connect the conduit 58 to an exhaust conduit 11, thereby to connect the head end of each of the air cylinders 52, 52 with the atmosphere.

Still referring to Fig. 6, it is to be understood that the main supply conduit 13 is connected directly with the second master valve 69, which initially functions to supply this incoming air directly to the conduit 61 which, in turn, is connected to the bottom portion of the air cylinder 64 (see Fig. 2). Therefore, the master valve 69, in its normal position, will be effective to maintain the crank 55 in its upper position so that all of the various head mechanisms 2 I, 2| will be maintained in their operative positions. The other air supply conduit 66 of the cylinder 54 is connected to the master valve 69 in a manner such that it will communicate with the exhaust conduit 11, thereby to maintain one portion of the cylinder 54 in communication with the atmosphere.

In order to initiate the operation of the present mechanism, it is merely necessary for an operator to depress a button 18 of the pilot valve M, thereby placing one portion of the conduit 15 in communication with its remaining portion by way of a valve groove 19 the latter being formed in a valve which is slidingly received within the pilot valve 14. Since this pilot valve M is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed ports BI and 82, it will be understood that, whenever the button 18 is depressed, the groove 19 will be positioned in register with the two ports, thereby to permit the air to pass uninterruptedly through the valve. This air, after passing through the valve, ina direction as indicated by the arrows, will enter, by way of a port 83, the solenoid-operated valve 15 which, in its normal condition, permits this ,air to pass, directly into the remaining amazon portion of the conduit 16 by way of a second port 84. Thus, it is to be understood that, whenever the operator depresses the valve button 18, air from the supply source will enter the master valve 60 by way of the conduit 16. This inrush of air into the master valve 60 is effective, as will hereinafter be described, to alter the initial pneumatic connections between the valve 60 and the various air cylinders 52. More specifically, as soon as this inrush of air is received within the master valve 60, it is effective to connect the conduit II directly with the conduit 58 and, at the same time, connect the exhaust conduit 'I'I directly with the conduit 59. From this, it will be understood that these new connections will be effective to supply air to each of the air cylinder conduits 51, 52', to the end that the various pistons 54, 54 will shift within the cylinders, thereby simultaneousiy to move all of the slitting disks 20, to their inoperative positions.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 6, there is provided on the lower portion of each of the head mechanism arms 32, 32 a lock valve 85, the specific construction of which is particularly illustrated in Fig. 5. Referring particularly to Fig. 5, it will be understood that each of these valves has slidingly mounted therein a piston 86, which is biased in one direction by means of a coil spring 81. Secured to each of the pistons is a piston rod 88, 88, which projects out through one end of the cylinder 85. Circumferentially provided about each of the pistons 86 is a groove 89, the function of which is to place the opposed conduits 90, 90 in register with each other, whenever the piston rod 88 is retracted. Referring now to Fig. 3, there is provided on each one of the piston rods 55, 55, a bent arm member 9!, the free end portion of which overlies the end of the piston 88 of the air valve 85. This valve 85 is so positioned upon the arm 32 that its piston will be depressed into its operative position only after the piston 54 of the valve 52 has reached its extreme left-hand location. Referring now to Fig. 6, it will be seen that each of the valves 85, 85 are connected in series, so that air coming to these various valves by way of the conduit I2 cannot pass into a conduit 92 (which is connected to the right-hand valve 85) until all of the valves 85, 85 have been actuated. Thus, upon the actuation of each of the valves 85, 85, air from the conduit I2 will pass into the conduit 92 and, thereafter, into a second pilot valve 93 by Way of a port 94. A second port 85 is provided in this pilot valve so that the air may pass uninterrupte'dly directly to the second master valve 69 by way of a conduit 98 which, in effect, is merely an extension of the conduit 92. The pilot valve 93, in its normal position, which is illustrated in Fig. 6, permits the air to so pass through its interior.

The second master valve 69 is constructed exactly in the same manner as valve 60 and thus, this inrush of air into the valve, by way of the conduit 96, will function to reverse the pneumatic connections of the valve in the same manner as was hereinabove described in connection with valve 60. More specifically, this inrush of air will function to connect the main supply conduit I3 directly with the conduit 66 of the cylinder 64, and also, it will connect the conduit 61 directly with the exhaust conduit 11, thereby to permit air to enter the top portionof the cylinder 54, for the purpose of moving the crank arm 50 in a downward direction (see Fig. 2). From the above, it isto be understood that, by depressing the button 18 of the first pilot valve 14,

one will initiate a sequence of operations which result in having all of the various disks 20, 20 shifted to their inoperative positions and, thereafter, upon the completion of this initial operation, the crank 50 will be actuated so as to move all of the various head mechanisms 2|, 2| to their respective inoperative positions. The pneumatic means hereinabove described will be effective to maintain the various slitting disks and head mechanisms in their respective inoperative positions until the operator wishes them to be returned.

In order to return the various elements to their operative positions, it is merely necessary for the operator to depress a button 91 of the second pilot valve 93. By thus depressing this button 91, it is to be understood that a piston 98 of this valve will be shifted downwardly against its biasing spring 99, to the end that the port 95 will be placed in communication with an exhaust port I00 which communicates directly with the atmosphere. However, this movement of the piston will not be effective to bleed the conduit 92, for the reason that the lower portion of the valve 93 will be cut off entirely from the ports 95 and I00. As soon as the ports 95 and I00 are placed in communication with each other, it will be clear that the pressure within the line 96 will immediately drop to atmospheric pressure, after which, the master valve 69 will be efl'ective to reconnect the air cylinder conduits 61 and 66' with the conduits 13 and 11, respectively, thereby causing the piston 53 to move again to its upper position (see Fig. 2) and, thus, force all of the head mechanisms 2|, 2| downwardly into their operative positions.

It is to be noted that there is associated with the second pilot valve 93 an electrical switch generally designated by the numeral IOI. As may be seen by reference to Fig. 6, this switch is normally open, but upon a downward movement of the pilot valve button 91, this switch will be closed, thus effectively closing a circuit between electrical conductors I02 and I03. Also,

there is associated with the crank 50, a second electrical switch generally designated by the numeral I04. As may be noted from Figs. 2 and 6, the switch I04 is normally closed whenever the various head mechanisms 2|, 2| are in their operative positions. The electrical conductor I02 connects one side of the switch I0| directly with a side of switch I04. The conductor I03, however, is connected directly to one side of a solenoid I05, the other side of which is connected by means of an electrical conductor I06 to a terminal I01. The second terminal I00 is connected directly to the switch I04 by means of an electrical conductor I09. It is to be understood that the terminals I01 and I08 may be appropriately connected to any normal power source. From the above, it will be understood that the solenoid I05 can never be connected across the electrical circuit until both of the switches HH and I04 are closed at the same time. Thus, by depressing. the button 91 of the second pilot valve 93, the solenoid. I05 will be energized only in the event that the switch I04 is closed by means of the crank 50 being positioned in its upper position, as viewed in Fig. 2.

Whenever the solenoid I05 is energized, it will be effective to shift a piston I I0 of the solenoidactuated valve 15 against the action of its biasing' spring III and thus, place the valve port 84 communication withan exhaust valve port I I2 of the valve. Furthermore, this movement of the valve piston will cut off all communication between the valve ports 83 and 84 and thereafter, the conduit I6, between port 84 and valve 60, will effectively have its pressure dropped to that of atmosphere. As soon as the air pressure drops within the conduit I6, the master valve 60 will function to reestablish its pneumatic connections to their initial conditions. More specifically, the conduit 58 will be placed in communication with the exhaust conduit II, and the conduit 59 will be placed in communication with the air supply conduit II and thus, the various pistons 54, 54 of the air cylinders 52, 52 will be shifted inwardly again, so that the various slitting disks 20, 20 will be relocated in engagement with their associated slitting elements I8, I8 under the impetus of the biasing springs 48, 48.

In order to give all of the various pistons 54, 54 of the air cylinders 52, 52 time enough in which to traverse the length of their associated cylinders, it will be necessary for the operator to hold the pilot valve button 9! in its depressed position for a definite interval of time. Otherwise, if the operator releases the button 9! prematurely, it will be obvious that the second master valve 69 will again operate. for the reason that the various cut-ofi valves 85, 85 will still be in their operative positions and will thus be effective to supply air directly to the conduit 96. However, if the operator retains the pilot valve button 91 in its lower position until the various pistons 54, 54 have reached their extreme outer positions, vhe will be assured that the master valve 69 will not again operate, for the reason that the various cut-oil" valves 85, 85 will be closed. From the above, it will be seen that the fact that the operator must hold the button 91 in its depressed position for an interval of time makes for a safety feature in that a release of this button at any time before the complete cycle has been effected will function to return all the various slitting elements 20, 20 and the head mechanisms 2|, 2| to their inoperative positions.

Thus, if the operator, while returning the slitting elements and head mechanisms to their operative positions, detects some improper condition of the paper web I 9 or any element of the mechanism, he may immediately release the button 9! and thereby return all of the various elements to their inoperative positions.

Referring now to Fig. 7, each of the master valves 68 and 69 comprises a casting H3 in which is provided a master cylinder II4. Slidingly mounted within the master cylinder I I4 is a piston II5, the upper end portion of which is con-' nected to a yoke IIB by means of a piston rod I I1. This yoke is pivotally mounted upon an arm H8, and the other end portion of the yoke is appropriately connected with a pair of secondary piston rods H9 and I20 by means of an inverted T-bar I2 I. Each of these secondary piston rods II 9, I20 is, in turn, connected respectively to pistons I22 and I23. The pistons I22 and I23 are slidably mounted within cylinders I24 and I25 formed within the casting II3. Springs I26 and I2I function to elevate each of the pistons 22 and I23 and thus depress the piston II within the master cylinder H4. The main air supply, such as that which is delivered through the conduit I3, is adapted to enter the master cylinder by way of a port I28, and while the master valve is in its normal position, which is illustrated in Fig. 7, this air will enter the cylinder I25 and be conducted to the lower portion of g the cylinder I24 by way of an interconnecting conduit I29. Thereafter, this air will pass through the cylinder I24 and to, for example, the conduit 59 by way of a conduit I30. Communicating with the lower portionof the cylinder I25 is the hereinabove noted exhaust conduit TI which is normally effective to place the lower portions of each of the air cylinders 52, 52in direct communication with atmosphere, by reason of the fact that the conduit 58 may be connected directly to the cylinder I25 by means of a port or connection I3I.

As hereinabove described, it is the function of either of the two pilot valves I4 or 93 to supply an inrush of air to its associated master valve whenever the pilot valve button is depressed. For example, whenever the button I8 of the valve I4 is depressed, a blast of air from the air supply unit Ill will enter master valve 69 by way of the conduit I9 which is connected to the master valve cylinder II4 by way of a port I32. From this. it will be understood that this inrush of air will be effective to raise the master valves piston II5, thereby lowering each of the two auxiliary pistons I22 and I23. Although the operator would normally release the button I8 of the pilot valve I4 soon after depressing the same, it is to be understood that the master piston I I5 will remain in its upper position, due to the fact that a continuous supply of air will be conducted to the lower portion of the cylinder I I4 by way of a conduit I33, one end portion of which will be uncovered whenever the piston I I5 is raised. The other end portion of the port I33 communicates directly with the lower portion of the auxiliary cylinder I24 and also with the upper portion of cylinder I25 by way of the conduit I29. Thus, whenever the master piston I I5 is elevated, it will uncover one end of the conduit I33, thereby placing the lower portion of. the cylinder I I4 in direct communication with the main air supply by way of the port I28 of the master valve. By thus delivering small quantities ,of air to the master cylinder by way of the conduit I33, it will be realized that the piston I I5 will be maintained in its upper position, even though there may be some slight leakage of air in the conduit I6 tending to reduce the pressure within this latter con- I duit. Also, when the piston H5 is so raised and the auxiliary pistons I22 and I23 are lowered against the action of their respective biasing springs I26, I21, it will be understood that the ports I 28 and I3I of the master valve will be placed in communication with each other, thereby to .connect, for example, the conduit 58 to the main air supply for the purpose of shifting each of the pistons lengthwise within the air cylinders 52, 52. Furthermore, the lowering of the auxiliary piston I22 will place the port I39 thereof in communication with the exhaust conduit 11, by way of a conduit I34, thereby to connect the lower end portion of each of the air cylinders 52, 52 with the atmosphere.

As hereinabove described, this latter condition of the master valve tflwillprevail until the solenoid-actuated valve I5 is operated by means of the solenoid I95. Of course, as soon as this solenoid functions in the manner as hereinabove described, it will be effective to bleed the air from the master cylinder H4, thereby, to place the master valve in its initial condition. It is to be clearly understood that the operation of master valve 59 is exactly the same as that described in connection with the valve 60 and thus the master cylinder of valve 69 will be lowered whenever the button 97 of the pilot valve 93 is shifted to its lower position.

From the above, it is clear that the present invention provides a novel and meritorous slitting mechanism which may be readily applied to practically any type of paper winding machine. Furthermore, it will be understood that the use of the present invention will permit the machine operator to manipulate the various slitting elements with ease and in a highly eificient and safe manner from a position remote from the individual slitting elements.

I claim:

1. A slitting machine for slitting a fiowing web, comprising, a first rotatable web-slitting member disposed at one side of the web, a support member disposed at the other side of said web, a head mechanism carried upon said support, a second web-slitting member in the form of a disk rotatably mounted upon said head mechanism and normally disposed in engagement with said first web-slitting member, fluidactuated means for axially shifting said disk relative to said head mechanism and away from said first web-slitting member, manually operable valve means located remotelv from said head mechanism for controlling said fluid-actuated means, and means for rotating said head mechanism about said support and angularly away said first web-slitting member.

2. A slitting machine for slitting a flowing web, comprising, a first rotatable web-slitting member disposed at one side of the web, a support member disposed at the other side of said web, a head mechanism carried upon said support, a second web-slitting member in the form of a disk rotatably mounted upon said head mechanism and normally disposed in engagement with said first web-slitting member, fluid-actuated means for axially shifting said disk relative to said head mechanism and away from said first web-slitting member, fluid-actuated means for rotating said head mechanism about said support and angularly away from said first web-slitting member, and manually operable valve means located remotely from said head mechanism for controlling said fluid-actuated means.

3. A slitting machine for slitting a flowing web, comprising, a first rotatable web-slitting member disposed at one side of the web, a support member disposed at the other side of said web, a head mechanism carried upon said support, a second web-slitting member in the form of a disk rotatably mounted upon said head mechanism and normally disposed in engagement with said first web-slitting member, fluid-actuated means for shifting said disk axially of itself and sidewise relatively to said head mechanism and said first web-slitting member, fiuid actuated means for' rotating said entire head mechanism about an axis parallel with and spaced from the disk axis, and manually operable valve means located remotely from said head mechanism for controlling said f u d-actuated means.

4. A slitting machine for slitting a flowing web, comprising, a first rotatable web-slitting member disposed at one side of the web, a support member disposed at the other side of said web, a head mechanism carried upon said support, a second web-slitting member in the form of a disk rotatably mounted upon said head mechanism and normally disposed in engagement with said first web-slitting member, a first fluid-actuated means for axially shifting said disk relative to said head mechanism and away from said first web-slitting member, manually operable valve means located remotely from said head mechanism for controlling said first fluid-actuated means, a second fluid-actuated means for rotating said head mechanism about said support and angularly away from said first web-slitting member, and a second valve means connected between said first and second fluid-actuated means for controlling said second fluid-actuated means in response to the movements of said first fluid-actuated means.

5. Ina slitting machine having a first rotatable web-slitting member located at one side of the path over which a web is adapted to be conveyed, a support member located at the other side of said path, a head mechanism carried upon said support, a second web-slitting member in the form 01' a disk 'rotatably mounted upon said mechanism and normally disposed in engagement with said first web-slitting member, a first fluidactuated means for axially shifting said disk towards and away from said first web-slitting member and relative to said head mechanism, manually operable valve means for controlling said first fluid-actuated means, a second fluid-actuated means for rotating said head mechanism angularly towards and away from said web-slitting member, and a second valve means connected between said first and second fluid-actuated means for controlling said second fluid-actuated means in response to the movements of said first fluidactuated means, said second valve means functioning to prevent the actuation of said second fluid-actuation means until said disk has first been shifted away from said first web-slitting member.

6. A slitting machine for slitting a flowing web, comprising, a support member mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a plurality of slitting disks mounted upon said support member, primary fluid-actuated means associated with each of said disks for axially shifting the disks back and forth transversely of said support member, secondary fluid-actuated means associated with said support member for rotating said support member about its longitudinal axis, valve means interconnected between said primary and secondary fluid-actuated means for automatically initiating the operation of the latter means only upon the completion of an initial movement of all of said disks, and a manually operable valve means for initiating the operation of said primary fluid-actuated means.

'7. In a slitting machine having a first rotatable web-slitting member located at one side of the path over which a web is adapted to be conveyed, a support member located at the other side of said path, a head mechanism carried upon said support member, a second web-slitting member in the form of a disk rotatably mounted upon said head mechanism and normally disposed in engagement with said first web-slitting member, a first fluid-actuated means for axially shifting said disk towards and away from said first webslitting member and relative to said head mechanism, manually operable valve means connected with said first fluid-actuated means for initiating the movements of said disk away from said head mechanism, a second fluid-actuated means for moving said head mechanism towards and away from said first web-slitting member, valve means connected between said first and second fluid-actuated means for initiating the movements of said head mechanism away from said first web-slitting means upon the completion of movement of said disk away from said head mechanism, a second manually operable valve 7 means connected with said last mentioned valve means for initiating the movements of said head mechanism toward said first web-slitting member, and means automatically operable to initiate the movement of said disk back toward said head mechanism whenever said head mechanism completes its return movement toward said first webslitting member.

EVERETT W. CLEM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number 14 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date McLaughlin Apr. 9, 1940 Stocker June 9, 1942 Langston Dec. 15, 1942 Leguillon July 27, 1943 Stacker Aug. 24, 1943 Keagle May 11, 1948 

